Forestry operations at Mallards Pike

We will be timber harvesting near Mallards Pike for a three-week period from September 2026. This page provides more information about the work we are doing and why.

What is happening?

We are making Mallards Pike fit for the future.

We will be thinning across the site, mainly removing larch and dead trees to give the strongest and healthiest trees more space to grow, and to allow more light to the woodland floor. Older spruce on the opposite side of the lake will be thinned, as these trees have reached maturity and likely won't survive much longer in our current climate. This will promote healthy feature trees for long-term retention. There will also be a small area of clearfell where we will be removing all Corsican pines. We will be retaining all broadleaves in this area, including a small scattering of Scots pine.

The map below shows where work will be taking place. The green areas show where we will be thinning, and the orange area shows where we will be clearfelling.

There are no plans to replant trees after this work is completed. Because the primary goal of thinning is to relieve overcrowding, replanting would simply recreate the problems we were trying to solve.

The timber produced by this operation will go into the construction industry, fencing, wood panel manufacture for furniture and firewood. Some crown wood will be left on site as wildlife habitat, known as ‘dead wood.’

When we take the wood away from the site we will do our best to use existing routes to minimise the damage to the forest floor, which is inevitable due to the size of the machinery that must be used. Damage to these routes will be repaired where necessary when the work is completed.

What is thinning?

Thinning in forestry is the selective removal of a proportion of trees growing in a forest in order to provide more growing space for the remaining trees.

Like any healthy population, a woodland needs new generations of trees to replace older ones when they reach the end of their natural life expectancy. Saplings and young trees make use of gaps in the canopy to get the sunlight they need; when all the trees in a woodland are of similar age the canopy closes over, shading out these younger trees. By thinning out portions of our woodlands we ensure that the next generation is able to thrive, adding resilience to the woodland.

Isn't it bad to cut down trees?

Working to protect woodlands requires a great deal of patience and foresight; cutting down trees looks destructive and because trees grow slowly it takes years to really see the benefits of the changes we make.

It is clear, however, that where woodlands have been well managed in the past we are reaping those benefits now – woodlands with a more diverse age structure are home to more species and a greater variety of wildlife overall.

Can I still visit this woodland?

Mallards Pike will close for certain periods during our harvesting operations. Key areas affected:

• From 14 to 18 September, work will start north of Mallards Pike. The site will remain open to the public with the potential for trail closures/diversions on some of the running trails and the Colliers Trail link.
• From 21 September to 2 October, work will be taking place in and around the car park and Mallards Pike Cafe. The site will be fully closed to the public on weekdays (including the cafe, Go Ape and the Colliers Trail link). The site will be open to the public at the weekends with reduced car park capacity.
• From 3 October, Mallards Pike will return to normal operating hours with reduced car park capacity (as timber will be stacked in the overflow car park).

Harvesting contracts can take some time and work may have to be paused due to the many constraints that we have to work around. Follow us on Facebook for all the latest information.

The most important thing for us is to keep the public, our staff, and contractors safe. Forestry work is very hazardous. A falling tree can weigh several tonnes and hit the ground at nearly 60mph. If a harvesting machine chainsaw snaps, it can fly through the forest like a bullet.

We will have safety and operational signage displayed, diversions, closures, and banks persons in position where needed. Diversions and temporary closures may be in place while operators are working near to the trails and we will do our best to reopen them as soon as it is safe to do so. This is for the safety of forest users and workers, so please take note of all signage and be prepared to turn around if asked to do so.

What about the wildlife?

Well managed forests are able to support more wildlife, and harvesting trees is an important part of a sustainable forest lifecycle.

Before we start any forestry work, a survey is carried out to check for species such as birds, mammals, rodents, invertebrates, and native plants. We also consider these against complex factors including tree health, ground conditions and likely rainfall when planning work that will support our long-term management plan.

While working, we continue to check for wildlife and will adapt, pause or suspend work if we find any animal that must be protected.

Forestry England works with others to develop good practice and guidance. We have co-published two booklets about woodland management for birds with the RSPB. Forestry operations are very complex processes and there are so many factors to balance. It is an essential part of the forest cycle, as it makes space for regrowth and develops robust, healthy and diverse forest areas.

Why is this work being completed in the autumn?

In order to support the rural economy, we must continue to work throughout the year. It is important for us to balance competing objectives in order to keep contractors employed for the greater good of the woodland as a whole. Parts of this woodland are also known to be soft and the ground becomes too wet for the machinery to operate during the winter months.

The area may look damaged for a period. However, over time the forest floor will recover and will actually thrive from the extra nutrients that get put back into the soil from harvesting. This process does take time and it may take a few years, but we are working for the long-term future of our forests.

If you would like any further information, please get in touch via westengland@forestryengland.uk